Metaphysical Exile

My name is Fernando Olszewski. I am a PhD student in philosophy at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and hold a master's degree in philosophy from the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro. I have a background in philosophy and economics. The texts I read here are my own reflections, and so are my free format videos.

If you'd like, you can support my work via Patreon or Ko-fi:

Patreon: www.patreon.com/cw/fernandoolszewski
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/fernandoolszewski


Metaphysical Exile

Ephemerality; or, The life of an insect: www.metaphysicalexile.com/2026/09/ephemerality-or-…

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 45

Metaphysical Exile

Prosperity Gospel: the fifth column of dumbism: www.metaphysicalexile.com/2026/08/prosperity-gospe…

1 month ago | [YT] | 26

Metaphysical Exile

​‪@alessandrocarosi8060‬ commented something on "The sad 'pathologization' of pessimism" that perfectly encapsulates the entire essay. It's a quote by Giacomo Leopardi, available in French in the Italian edition of Leopardi's "Epistolario", from New Comptom editori. The quote is from a letter Leopardi wrote to Louis de Sinner, a Swish filologist. The quote in English is as follows:


“People persist in attributing to my physical condition what should be attributed solely to my intellect. Before I die, I intend to protest against this fabrication born of weakness and vulgarity, and to implore my readers to strive to refute my observations and arguments rather than to blame my illnesses.”


https://youtu.be/Le-6GRKhHLk

www.metaphysicalexile.com/2026/08/the-sad-patholog…

1 month ago | [YT] | 60

Metaphysical Exile

The sad ‘pathologization’ of pessimism: www.metaphysicalexile.com/2026/08/the-sad-patholog…

1 month ago | [YT] | 44

Metaphysical Exile

This video by Lawrence Anton made me recall of Julio Cabrera's philosophy. Cabrera says that the moment we are created, we acquire a decreasing/decaying being which is characterized by different types of friction that make being possess an inherent lack of value (contrary to positive philosophies which consider being inherently valuable) Cabrera separates the frictions in 3 types: physical pain, discouragement, and aggression. Against these constant frictions, we must constantly invent positive values to justify being alive. It's as if existence itself corroded our being all the time, from all sides, eventually destroying our being completely. However, existence would still have these frictions against which we would have to always invent and maintain positive values even if we were immortals, so not dying a final death wouldn't change the lack of value of existence. So, in a sense, we're thrown in a kind of debt we never asked for, and that we finally pay in full at the moment of our passing.

1 month ago | [YT] | 27

Metaphysical Exile

IMPORTANT EDIT: I just realized I never recorded the English versions of 'Pessimistic Films' (in Portuguese I divided in Part I and II so far), so they aren't here on YouTube. Anyway, those are on my blog if you want to take a look, just search for the title 'Pessimistic Films'. I'm always adding new films to that list. Having said that, I want to remind you that the list I'm presenting here on this particular post isn't just about movies that contain pessimistic themes in them. There's plenty of movies on this particular list that have nothing to do with it. This is just a list of some of my favorite films of all time. Some of them do contain themes related to philosophical pessimism, others don't. Again, if you want to read a list with movies that ONLY contain pessimistic themes, check out the 'Pessimistic Films' post on my blog!

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Since I mentioned a film, I think it would be cool to make a post with a list of some of my favorite ones. Although some of them contain themes revolving around "philosophical pessimism," as I discuss in the videos 'Pessimistic Films, Part 1' and 'Part 2,' others have nothing to do with that. The list is not necessarily in any particular order of preference. I'm certainly forgetting several, but that's okay.

Here it goes:

- Network (1976)
- The Big Lebowski (1998)
- The Thing (1982)
- Full Metal Jacket (1987)
- Dr. Strangelove (1964)
- Chinatown (1974)
- The Sunset Limited (2011)
- Moon (2009)
- Alien, Aliens and Alien 3 (1979, 1986, 1992)
- Scarface (1983)
- Hellraiser (1987)
- The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
- Seven (1995)
- Aniara (2018)
- The Godfather (1972)
- Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)
- Predator, Predator 2 (1987, 1990)
- No Country for Old Men (2007)
- Capernaum (2018)
- The Fly (1986)
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
- Martyrs (2008)
- The Name of the Rose (1986)
- Blade Runner (1982)
- Under the Skin (2013)
- The Empty Man (2020)
- Midnight in Paris (2011)
- The Ninth Gate (1999)
- Gladiator (2000)
- Jurassic Park (1993)
- Sexy Beast (2000)
- Reservoir Dogs (1992)
- The Hateful Eight (2015)
- Room 1408 (2007)
- RoboCop (1987)
- Starship Troopers (1997)
- Heat (1995)

2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 56

Metaphysical Exile

Regarding my take on the World Cup (and the piece on UFOs): just because the main theme of my writing and recordings is philosophical pessimism that doesn't mean that’s all I talk about. Having a specific type of philosophy as a guiding principle doesn't stop me from being ironic or cracking jokes, it doesn't stop me from laughing while chatting with friends and family, nor does it stop me from laughing to myself while writing about whatever pops into my head.

I know that in an environment like YouTube or Spotify, it can seem like I’m obligated to sell a specific flavor of snack. I know many people view YouTube channels as being either McDonald's, KFC, or Pizza Hut. But the Metaphysical Exile isn't that. I talk about what I want to talk about. Usually, I want to talk about how it would have been better never to have been born, because existence is a vale of tears. But sometimes, I feel like talking about my life, or I feel like discussing how ridiculous I find the belief in UFOs, or I feel like sharing outlandish football theories (which I clearly state are jokes).

Fortunately for me, Portuguese-speaking readers and listeners have so far been far better at grasping the tone of what I write and say. Most English speakers get it too, yes, but there are also more English speakers who don't get it compared to those who consume my work in Portuguese. Likely it's because my English writing/speaking isn't as good (not that my Portuguese writing is something amazing to begin with). That’s likely the case.

2 months ago | [YT] | 56